UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE USACONSISTORY OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONSPRESS RELEASE

Protopresbyter Michael Zemlachenko of Blessed Memory!

Dearly Beloved Clergy and All Orthodox Faithful:

It is with a profound depth of sadness that we hereby inform you of the repose, in the evening hours of 26 February, 2013 of Protopresbyter Michael Zemlachenko, a long-term pastor and Member of the Council of Metropolia and Consistory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA.

Protopresbyter Michael was stricken with a serious illness about a year ago and was recovering, following a recent hospitalization, in a comfort of his home, surrounded by his loved ones – Pani-matka Tatiana and children.

O God of spirits and of all flesh, Who has trampled down death; You have overthrown the devil and have given Life to Your world: now give rest, Lord, to the soul of Your departed servant priest Michael, in a place of light, a place of refreshment and a place of repose, where there is no sickness, sighing nor sorrow. As You are a Good God, Who loves mankind, pardon every sin, which he has committed, whether by word or by deed or by thought, for there is no man who lives and has not sinned. You alone are sinless, Your Righteousness is Eternal and Your Word is Truth. For You are the Resurrection, the Life and the Repose of your newly presented servant, priest Michael, Christ our God and we give glory, together with Your Father, Who is Eternal and Your All-Holy, Good and Life-Creating Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen!

Protopresbyter Michael Zemlachenko, 89 years old, of Winchester, VA (formerly of Three Bridges, NJ), fell asleep in the Lord on Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at home. He was lovingly surrounded by his wife Pani Matka Tatiana and his family.

Born on December 25, 1923 in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, he was a resident of Hunterdon County since 1963. He and his wife moved to Winchester, VA in January, 2012.

Protopresbyter Zemlachenko and his wife Tatiana celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary February 10, 2013. He is survived by his wife Tatiana; three sons and their wives, Jerry and Helen of Winchester, VA, Michael and Oksana, Nicholas and Kathleen of Flemington, NJ; ten grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

He was ordained to the Priesthood in February, 1955, and elevated to the rank of a Protopresbyter in 1988 – the highest rank of a priest in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. He has served the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA for 58 years - having served parishes in Uniondale, Long Island, NY, Minersville, PA, Bayonne, NJ, South Bound Brook, NJ, Northampton, PA and Clifton, NJ. He served as an administrative Treasurer and Cemetery Director of the Consistory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA in South Bound Brook, NJ. He was also a member of the Council of Metropolia as well as of the Consistory and served on many Church committees.

Visitations and the First Part of the Funeral Service for a Priest will be served on Friday evening, March 1, 2013 at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Orthodox Memorial Church, (260 Main St., South Bound Brook, NJ) - Visitation 5:00 - 7:00 PM; Memorial Service - 7:00 PM, continued visitation until 9:00 PM.

Divine Liturgy will be served on Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 9:00 AM, followed by interment in the St. Andrew’s Memorial Church Cemetery.

His Eminence Metropolitan Antony, the First Hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA will preside at all liturgical Funeral services.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Father Michael’s memory to be sent to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, South Bound Brook, NJ (St. Andrew’s Memorial Church) or Blue Ridge Hospice (Winchester, VA).